Bunk stake equipment



C 1951 E. E. JORGENSEN ET AL- 2,546,511

BUNK STAKE EQUIPMENT Filed Dec 14, 1948 I5 57 49 44 as ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 27, 1951 BUNK STAKE EQUIPMENT Ernest E. J orgensen and Lincoln Johnson, Halfmoon Bay, British Columbia, Canada- Application December 14, 1948, Serial No. 65,126

7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in bunk stake equipment.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a bunk stake which may be released from a point remote from it.

Another object is the provision of a bunk stake for relatively heavy loads which may be quickly and easily released.

A further object is the provision of releasing means for a bunk stake which is not subjected to the full load retained in place by the stake.

Yet another object is the provision of fluidoperated means for releasing a bunk stake and returning it to its working position.

A still further object is the provision of fluidoperated means for controlling a bunk stake, and including a safety lock which is operated by this means and. yet is not released in the event of the fluid system going out of order. i

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists essentially of bunk stake equipment comprising a substantially L- shaped stake, means pivotally connecting the horizontal section of the stake to a bunk adjacent the end thereof, said horizontal section extending inwardly from the vertical section of the stake, a bearing removably positioned beneath the stake holding the latter in its normal working position, and means for withdrawing the bearing to permit the stake to swing downwardly on its pivot out of its normal position, as more fully described in the following specification and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic under view of a logging truck incorporating the stake equipment,

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the stake equipment,

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view of the equipment with the stake removed,

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail of the safety latch mechanism, and

Figure 5 is a reduced side elevation of an alternative form of stake.

Referring to Figure 1, It represents a logging truck having one or more bunks H: mounted thereon, upon which the logs i2 rest- Each bunk is constructed in any desired manner. In this example, the bunk is formed with a base I?) having spaced side members i3 and il projecting upwardly therefrom. The load may rest on the upward edges of these side members, or it may rest on a web i8 extending across and supported by said upper edges. The web i8, if used, terminates short of the outer ends of the bunk.

A stake 23 is provided, and this is preferably L-shaped and formed with a horizontal section 2| and a vertical section 22. A suitable means is provided for pivotally connecting the horizontal section of the stake to the bunk adjacent the end thereof. In this case a pin 24 is carried by the side members 16 and I1 and extends through the section 2! near its free end, said section extending inwardly in relation to the bunk from the vertical section 22.

The upper part 26 of the vertical section of the stake may be separate from the lower part 21 thereof, in which case his pivotally connected to the latter at '28. Actually, the part 26 is U- shaped in cross section and fits over the upper end of the part 21 of the stake. An arm 30 extends downwardly from the lower end of the upper part 26 and has a weight 3| on its lower end which extends under the vertical section of the stake. This Weight maintains the upper part 26 in a vertical position at all times. If desired, the vertical section of the stake may be formed in a single piece, as shown in Figure 5.

By referring to Figure 2, it will be noted that the horizontal section 2| is located below the upper surface of the bunk ll. Suitable means is'provided for retaining the stake in its normal Working position, that is, with its vertical section extending upwardly at the end of the bunk. This may be accomplished by removably positioning a bearing beneath the stake outside the pivot point 24 thereof. It is preferable that this bearing be in the form of a roller 35 rotatably mounted on a shaft 36 which extends transversely on the bunk beneath the stake. Rollers 38 and 39 are rotatably mounted on the ends of said shaft and ride on tracks 46 and 4! carried by and extending longitudinally of the bottom of the, bunk. The stake is provided with a bearing surface M which normally rests on the bearing roller 35. Thus, this bearing roller normally retains the stake in its proper working position. When this roller is withdrawn from beneath the stake, the latter swings downwardly on its pivot 2'4 to allow the logs IE to be rolled off the bunk. If the stake is constructed as shown, the upper part 26 thereof is maintained in a vertical position by the Weight 3| even at this time. By forming the vertical section of the stake in two pivotally connected parts, the stake does not pro- :j'ect laterally when it is in its lowermost position, as far as it otherwise would.

A convenient means is provided for withdrawing the bearing roller from beneath the stake and for returning it to its normal position. Suitable manual means may be provided, but it is preferable to control it by means of a fluid-operated cylinder. In this example, the cylinder is operr ated by air.

A cylinder 48 is located adjacent the stake, and this cylinder has a piston 49 operating therein. A rod 50 extends outwardly from one end of the cylinder and is connected by means of a yoke 5| to the shaft 36. One way of moving the piston in the cylinder is to supply air to either end of the latter by pipes 53 or 54, said pipes extending from a, suitable source of sup.- ply (not. shown) which may be, controlled in any convenient way. With this arrangement, when air is supplied to one end of the cylinder through; pipe 53, the bearing roller 35 is withdrawnfrorn beneath the stake, and when air is supplied to the opposite end of the cylinder through thepipe. 54, the bearing roller is moved back under the. stake to return it to its normal working position.

When the logs are on the bunk, the only pressure against the stake is a side thrust against, the vertical section thereof and this helps the withdrewa f e. bearing roller fr m. enea e stake, since said roller is. normally located out-., id the take. pivot. 24.

suitable means may be provided. for preyenting the accidental withdrawal of the bearing roller. This may be in the form fa, latch 58.. which normally rests on one of, the rails, say raililll, behind the roller 38 so that the latter cannot move in-. wardly. The latch may be removed manually or mechanically.

One way of controlling the latch 58,is. to mount it freely at its inner end on a shaft v59. 'A finger prQiccts tw r ly and, benea h Pin 6|. 0n the latch. A link 64 issecured totheshaft 5.9 and extends downwardly therefrom said link being connected to the cylinder 48 by an arm '65. In this example, the cylinder is carried by lateral pins. 61 which ride in short slots 68 formed in supports 69. Figure 2 shows the latch 58in its normal position behind the. roller 38, When air is supplied through the; pipe 53 to. withdraw. the: bearing roller from beneath the stake, reaction first causes the cylinder to move, towards, the stake within the limits of the-slots 68.. This rotatesthe shaft 59and, since thefinger 6,0 isbelow and en: eases t p n f t e hj, the tt r aisedabovethe; roller 38;. the movement of the piston in the cylinder releases thev stake, When. r s pp ed om: the y nder hrc ehthe i e 5 r c i n c u e h cy n e o. mov away from the stake. This. pivots the, shaft 59, ta. move he. fin er 60 wnward y. and. s. the.- lat h. is. re t ng on the ro ler 38,. its. pin 6.1. eannotfollow thev finger. However, the movement of the. piston inthecylinder movesthe bearing roller outwardly and returnsthe stake to. its normal work! ing. position. As soon as the. roller 38 clears the latch. 58, the latter drops downwardlyon tothe track 40 to prevent accidental movement of said roller, and, consequentlythebearing roller.

What we claim as ourinvention is:

1'. Bunk stake equipment comprising a, substantially L-shaped stake, means pivotally con.- necting the horizontal section of the stake. to a bunk adjacent the end thereof, said horizontal section extending inwardly from the vertical section of the stake, a bearing independent of the stake removably positioned? beneathv the latter outside its pivot point, said stake wheninits normal working position resting on the bearing and, means for withdrawing the. bearing. from supporting the stake to permit, the stake to swing downwardly on its pivot out of its normal, posi tion.

2., Bun hake equipment comprising a sub,- stantially L-shaped stake, means pivotally con-- necting the horizontal section. of the stake to. a acent. hce dthe eci er t ng; r er. removably positioned beneath the stake outside its pivot point, said stake when in its normal working position resting on the roller means for retaining the: roller in; position, and means for withdrawing the roller from supporting the stake to permit the stake to swing downwardly on its pivot out of its normal position.

3. Bunk stake equipment comprising a substantially L-shaped stake, means pivotally connecting the horizontal section of the stake to a blink adjacent; the end thereof, a bearing roller removably positioned beneath the stake holding the latter in its normal working position, a cylinder rnounted adjacent the stake, a piston in said cylinder, means connecting the piston to the roller, and fluid operating means for moving the piston in the cylinder to remove, and returnvthe bearing roller from and to the, stake, to, permitthe latter to swing downwardly and to return. it, to its normal position.

4. Bunk stake equipment comprising a, substantially L-shaped, stake, means pivotally connecting the horizontal section of the stake, to. a. bunk adjacent. the end, thereof, a shaft extending transversely of, the bunk,v rollers at the. ends.

ing transversely of the bunk, rollers at the, ends.

of, the shaft, tracks, extending longitudinally. of; the bunk on which the rollers, ride, a bearing rolleron said. shaft removably positioned beneath the. stake, and holding the latter in its normal. working position, a cylinder mounted adjacent. the stake, a piston in said cylinder, means COLL-r necting; thepiston to the rollershaft, and fluid operating means for moving the-piston, in thecy-l; inder to remove and return the bearing roller from and to the; stake to permit the; latter to swing downwardly and to return ity to; its normal; position.,

6,. Bunk stake equipment, as claimed in claims in which the cylinder is mounted for limited. mov m nt. and inclu ing safety l ck means f preventing accidental movement of, thebearing; roller, said lock. means being connect d: o. t cylin r an p rated by movement. hereof;

7 Bu k stake. equipmentas claimedirr claim 3 in which the cylinder is. mounted forlimited movement, said cylinder being-moved byreaction each time the piston is moved therein, and in: cluding a safety latch mountedadj acentthe bearing roller for preventing accidentalmovement ERNEST E. J ORGENSEN; LINCOLN JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent! Name Date York Feb. 19, 1918 Number 

